Kudos to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for helping to fight for more jobs for Singaporeans professionals, managers and executives (PMEs).

800 more jobs were given to Singaporean PMEs by the 250 companies that are placed on MOM's Fair Consideration Framework (FCF)'s watch-list.

Implemented in September 2013, this FCF watchlist is a ruling that imposes an obligation on all businesses to consider Singaporeans fairly for employment opportunities.

These companies are among the uncooperative firms on the FCF watchlist, which was started last year to keep track of firms not doing enough hire and groom Singaporeans.

At the Committee of Supply debate in parliament today, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said that these firms can be progressively be removed from the watchlist if they continue to improve and adopt fair and progressive practices.

Who are on the watch-list?

According to Lim, these companies come from various industries that include:

- Information and Communication Technology

- Professional Services

- Financial and Insurance Activities

When the companies are on the watch-list, TAFEP will guide these companies to improve their employment practices over a period of six months.

But the companies will also be subjected to closer monitoring and scrutiny.

This means they would be asked to provide details for EP applications such as the number of Singaporeans who applied and were interviewed for the posts, and whether existing Singaporean employees were considered for the posts, amongst others, to assess whether the hiring process has been fair.

Firms which are unresponsive or uncooperative can expect to have their work pass privileges curtailed.

Action taken against 50 firms for not been "receptive or cooperative"

Although a number of firms have responded positively by stepping up on local recruitment, Lim revealed that MOM did not see enough improvement in about 50 firms after 6 months of engagement.

Hence, MOM decided to take action against the firms by having more than 500 Employment Pass applications rejected or withdrawn.